SYK vs ZBH Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
Stryker and Zimmer Biomet are the two leading pure-play orthopedic device companies, both competing in joint replacement, spine, and surgical robotics. Stryker has been the consistent outperformer driven by Mako robotic system market share capture. Zimmer is the recovery story — executing on growth improvement with ROSA robotics. Both benefit from aging population demand for joint replacement.
SYK vs ZBH is the orthopedic market share winner driven by Mako robotic leadership (Stryker) versus the market share recovery story with ROSA robotics and large-joint implant scale (Zimmer Biomet) — Stryker commands a premium for demonstrated execution; Zimmer offers recovery upside if growth acceleration succeeds.
SYK holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. ZBH leads on both 1-year return (-4.91%) and forward P/E quality (11.13x vs 19.74x for SYK), a relatively favorable combination of momentum and valuation. SYK leads on both revenue growth (9.40%) and operating margin (27.02%), suggesting a stronger fundamental setup on both dimensions. Analyst consensus implies meaningfully more upside for SYK (+15.73%) than for ZBH (+6.60%).
Human Wall Street analysts' price targets, typically implying a ~12-month view — a separate signal from this site's own AI Prediction Signal further down the page, which is a 5-/30-day machine-learning forecast based on price history alone.
- prefer the consistent orthopedic and medical device outperformer with Mako robotic surgery market share leadership
- value Stryker's MedSurg and neuro diversification reducing pure joint replacement category concentration risk
- want large-cap medical device exposure with above-market organic growth and a proven acquisition integration track record
- are comfortable with 25–35x earnings premium valuation reflecting Mako competitive advantage and growth consistency
- prefer a discount orthopedic device investment with recovery upside if ROSA robotic adoption accelerates
- value Zimmer's large installed base of surgeon-loyal knee and hip implant programs as a stable revenue base
- want orthopedic sector exposure at lower valuation than Stryker while benefiting from the same aging population tailwind
- are comfortable with the risk of continued market share loss to Stryker if ROSA adoption continues lagging Mako
| Metric | SYK | ZBH |
|---|---|---|
| AI scorei | 49.9 | 26.8 |
| AI ranki | #552 | #2523 |
| Latest closei | $280.13 | $94.25 |
| 1M returni | -15.46% | -4.94% |
| 6M returni | -17.55% | +4.91% |
| 1Y returni | -25.62% | -4.91% |
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | SYK | ZBH |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $7.43K (-25.7%) started 2025-09-17 | $9.43K (-5.7%) started 2025-09-17 |
| 5Y ago | $11.31K (+13.1%) started 2021-09-20 | $7.16K (-28.4%) started 2021-09-20 |
| 10Y ago | $29.93K (+199.3%) started 2016-09-19 | $8.94K (-10.6%) started 2016-09-19 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | SYK | ZBH |
|---|---|---|
| Market capi | $126.84B | $19.25B |
| Trailing P/Ei | 34.23 | 24.49 |
| Forward P/Ei | 19.74 | 11.13 |
| Price/Salesi | 6.32 | 2.37 |
| EV/Revenuei | 5.37 | 3.10 |
| Analyst targeti | $382.72 | $107.57 |
| Target upsidei | +15.73% | +6.60% |
| Metric | SYK | ZBH |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growthi | 9.40% | 4.80% |
| Earnings growthi | 44.10% | 33.80% |
| EPS growthi | +44.10% | +33.80% |
| FCF margini | +15.90% | +12.82% |
| Operating margini | 27.02% | 17.96% |
| Profit margini | 14.43% | 9.48% |
| ROIC proxyi | 16.51% | 6.41% |
| Return on equityi | 16.51% | 6.41% |
| Dividend yieldi | 1.06% | 0.95% |
| Payout ratioi | 36.06% | 23.30% |
| Dividend growth streaki | No increase yet | No increase yet |
| Betai | 0.77 | 0.46 |
| Debt/equityi | 64.39 | 60.17 |
| Current ratioi | 2.16 | 1.69 |
| Quick ratioi | 1.08 | 0.74 |
Over the past year, SYK and ZBH have moved moderately in the same direction (correlation of 0.53), based on daily returns.
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | SYK | ZBH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | -25.67% | -5.67% |
| CAGRi | -25.70% | -5.68% | |
| Volatilityi | 29.52% | 32.10% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | -1.01 | -0.16 | |
| Sortino ratioi | -1.33 | -0.20 | |
| Max drawdowni | 30.47% | 23.47% | |
| Current drawdowni | 27.87% | 9.36% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 11.69% | 10.74% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 13.81% | 12.12% | |
| Max daily dropi | 8.81% | 15.15% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 14.63% | 14.23% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +8.62% | -30.54% |
| CAGRi | +1.67% | -7.04% | |
| Volatilityi | 25.68% | 27.07% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.02 | -0.30 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.03 | -0.40 | |
| Max drawdowni | 33.09% | 44.52% | |
| Current drawdowni | 30.58% | 34.30% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 9.02% | 22.91% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 11.83% | 24.96% | |
| Max daily dropi | 8.81% | 15.15% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 14.63% | 14.23% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +170.10% | -16.75% |
| CAGRi | +10.45% | -1.82% | |
| Volatilityi | 27.02% | 28.76% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.34 | -0.08 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.48 | -0.11 | |
| Max drawdowni | 43.80% | 52.63% | |
| Current drawdowni | 30.58% | 43.90% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 6.98% | 22.37% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 10.00% | 26.64% | |
| Max daily dropi | 13.11% | 15.15% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 23.64% | 27.48% |
| Category | SYK | ZBH |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Stryker Corporation | Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. |
| Sector | Healthcare | Healthcare |
| Industry | Medical Devices | Medical Devices |
| Core business | Stryker is a leading diversified medical technology company with three segments: MedSurg & Neurotechnology (surgical instruments, neuro products, emergency care), Orthopaedics & Spine (joint replacement, spine, trauma), and Mako (robotic surgical system for hip and knee replacement). Mako robotic system is a particular competitive differentiator — hospitals with Mako robots see higher joint replacement procedure volume and Stryker implant attach rates. | Zimmer Biomet is a leading orthopedic device company focused on joint reconstruction (knees, hips), spine, craniomaxillofacial, and extremity implants. Its ROSA robotic system competes with Stryker's Mako for the surgical robotics market in orthopedics. Zimmer has historically been focused on large-joint reconstruction, particularly total knee and hip replacement — the same core market as Stryker. ZBH is executing on revenue growth improvement under its current strategy. |
| Investor focus | Investors track Mako robot placements, hip and knee procedure volume, organic revenue growth relative to the orthopedic market, and M&A pipeline for capability additions. | Investors track ROSA robot placement pace, hip and knee procedure volume recovery, organic revenue growth relative to the orthopedic market, and EPS improvement from operational efficiency. |
- Mako robotic hip and knee system drives procedure volume capture at installed hospitals — the robotic workflow improves accuracy creating surgeon preference and loyalty
- Diversified across MedSurg (surgical instruments, beds), neurotechnology, and orthopaedics — less single-segment exposure than pure orthopedic peers
- Consistent above-market organic growth from Mako-driven market share capture in hip and knee replacement procedures
- Strong position in knee replacement with a large installed base of surgeon-loyal Zimmer implant programs
- ROSA robotic system provides a competitive platform for hospitals wanting an alternative to Stryker's Mako
- Orthopedic implant category benefits from aging population tailwind as joint replacement procedure volumes grow with demographics
- Premium valuation (25–35x earnings) requires consistent above-market growth — any slowdown amplifies multiple compression
- Mako robot pipeline requires continuous new placements to maintain advantage as Zimmer and J&J develop competitive robotic systems
- Acquisition integration must generate synergies without distracting from organic Mako growth momentum
- Stryker's Mako has captured meaningful market share from Zimmer in robotic orthopedics — Zimmer is in recovery mode while Stryker leads
- ROSA adoption has lagged Mako placements — Zimmer needs to accelerate robotic installations to compete for the procedure volumes Stryker is capturing
- Zimmer organic growth has consistently lagged Stryker's — the gap must narrow for ZBH to outperform as an investment
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